Open Channel Flow

CE 50/62 –A

Engr. Richard U. Lao, RCE,RMP,MEng

CE Dept.-Asst. Professor

School of Civil and

Monroe L. Weber-Shirk Environmental Engineering
 Open Channel Flow
Overview
 Liquid (water) flow with a ____ ________
free surface
(interface between water and air)
 relevant for
 natural channels: rivers, streams
 engineered channels: canals, sewer
lines or culverts (partially full), storm drains
 of interest to hydraulic engineers
 location of free surface
 velocity distribution
 discharge - stage (______)
depth relationships
 optimal channel design
 Topics in Open Channel Flow
 Uniform Flow normal depth
 Discharge-Depth relationships

 Channel transitions
 Control structures (sluice gates, weirs…)
 Rapid changes in bottom elevation or cross section
 Critical, Subcritical and Supercritical Flow
 Hydraulic Jump
 Gradually Varied Flow
 Classification of flows
 Surface profiles
 Classification of Flows
 Steady and Unsteady (Temporal)
Steady: velocity at a given point does not change with

time
 Uniform, Gradually Varied, and Nonuniform (Spatial)
 Uniform: velocity at a given time does not change
within a given length of a channel
 Gradually varied: gradual changes in velocity with
distance
 Laminar and Turbulent
 Laminar: flow appears to be as a movement of thin
layers on top of each other
 Turbulent: packets of liquid move in irregular paths
 Type of Open Channels

 The most common shapes of prismatic channels are

rectangular, parabolic, triangular, trapezoidal and circular.

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 Types of Flow in Open Channels
The flow in an open channel can be classified into the
following types :
A).Uniform and non-uniform flow:
 If for a given length of the channel, the velocity of flow,
depth of flow, slope of the channel and cross-section
remain constant, the flow is said to be uniform.
 Otherwise it is said to be non-uniform.
 Non-uniform flow is also called varied flow which can be
further classified as:
 Gradually varied flow (GVF) where the depth of the flow changes
gradually along the length of the channel.
 Rapidly varied flow (RVF) where the depth of flow changes
suddenly over a small length of the channel. For example, when
water flows over an overflow dam, there is a sudden rise (depth) of
water at the toe of the dam, and a hydraulic jump forms.
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Types of Flow in Open Channels

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Types of Flow in Open Channels
Uniform Flow

8
 Types of Flow in Open Channels
B). Steady and unsteady flow: :
 The flow is steady when, at a particular section, the depth
of the liquid and other parameters (such as velocity, area of
cross section, discharge) do not change with time. In an
unsteady flow, the depth of flow and other parameters
change with time.
C). Laminar and turbulent flow:
 The flow in open channel can be either laminar or
turbulent. In practice, however, the laminar flow occurs
very rarely. The engineer is concerned mainly with
turbulent flow. In the case of open channel Reynold’s
number is defined as:

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 Types of Flow in Open Channels

Recall that Reynold’s number is the measure of relative effects

of the inertia forces to viscous forces. 10
Types of Flow in Open Channels

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 Types of Flow in Open Channels
D). Sub-critical, critical, and supercritical flow:
 The criterion used in this classification is what is known by
Froude number, Fr, which is the measure of the relative
effects of inertia forces to gravity force:

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
In the case of steady-uniform flow in an open channel, the
following main features must be satisfied:
 The water depth, water area, discharge, and the velocity
distribution at all sections throughout the entire channel
length must remain constant, i.e.; Q , A , y , V remain
constant through the channel length.
 The slope of the energy gradient line (S), the water surface
slope (Sws), and the channel bed slope (S0) are equal.
S = Sws = S0 T.E.L
Water Surface

channel bed

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
 The depth of flow, y , is defined as the vertical distance
between the lowest point of the channel bed and the free
surface.
 The depth of flow section, D , is defined as the depth of
liquid at the section, measured normal to the direction of
flow.
T.E.L

Water Surface
D

channel bed

Unless mentioned otherwise, the depth of flow and the depth of flow section
will be assumed equal. For uniform flow the depth attains a constant value
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known as the normal depth, yn
 Momentum and Energy
Equations
 Conservation of Energy
 “losses” due to conversion of turbulence to heat
 useful when energy losses are known or small
 Contractions
____________
 Must account for losses if applied over long distances
We need an equation for losses
 _______________________________________________

 Conservation of Momentum
 “losses” due to shear at the boundaries
 useful when energy losses are unknown
Expansion
 ____________
 Open Channel Flow:
Discharge/Depth Relationship
 Given a long channel of
constant slope and cross
section find the relationship A
between discharge and depth
P
 Assume
 Steady Uniform Flow - ___ _____________
no acceleration
geometry with distance)
 prismatic channel (no change in _________

 Use Energy and Momentum, Empirical or

Dimensional Analysis?
 What controls depth given a discharge?
 Why doesn’t the flow accelerate? Force balance
 Steady-Uniform Flow: Force
Balance
V2
oP D x
Shear force =________ 2g Energy grade line
P Hydraulic grade line
Wetted perimeter = __ b
Gravitational force = A Dx sin
________ Dx c

ADx sin    o PDx  0

a
A
o   sin  d
P W cos  

Shear force
W
A sin 
= R h Hydraulic radius S   sin 
P cos 
W sin 

Turbulence
Relationship between shear and velocity? ______________
 Open Conduits:
Dimensional Analysis
 Geometric parameters A
 ___________________
Hydraulic radius (Rh) Rh 
P
 ___________________
Channel length (l)
 ___________________
Roughness (e)
 Write the functional relationship
æl e ö
C p = f ç , , Re, Fr , M, W ÷
èRh Rh ø
V
 Does Fr affect shear? _________
No! Fr =
yg
 Pressure Coefficient for Open
Channel Flow?
 2 Dp
Cp  Pressure Coefficient  Dp  hl
V 2 (Energy Loss Coefficient)

2 ghl
Ch  Head loss coefficient hl = S f l
V2
l

Friction slope
2 gS f l Friction slope coefficient Slope of EGL
CS f =
V2
 Dimensional Analysis
æl e ö 2 gS f l
CS f = f ç , , Re÷ CS f =
èRh Rh ø V2

l æe ö
CS f = f ç , Re÷ Head loss  length of channel
Rh èRh ø

Rh æe ö Rh
CS f = f ç , Re÷ = l (like f in Darcy-Weisbach) S f
C =l
l èRh ø l

2 gS f l Rh 2 gS f Rh 2g
=l V= V= S f Rh
V 2
l l l
 Chezy equation (1768)

 Introducedby the French engineer Antoine

Chezy in 1768 while designing a canal for
the water-supply system of Paris
V = C Rh S f compare 2g
V= S f Rh
l
where C = Chezy coefficient
m m
60 < C < 150
s s
where 60 is for rough and 150 is for smooth
also a function of R (like f in Darcy-Weisbach)
 Darcy-Weisbach equation (1840)
f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor  d 2 
 
Rh   
A 4  d
l V2 l V2 
hl = f hl = f P d 4
d 2g 4 Rh 2 g

l V2 V2 8g
Sfl = f S f Rh = f V= S f Rh
4 Rh 2 g 8g f

For rock-bedded streams f =

1
2
æ é Rh ùö
çè1.2 + 2.03log êd ú÷
where d84 = rock size larger than 84% of ë 84 ûø
the rocks in a random sample
 Manning Equation (1891)

Most popular in U.S. for open channels


1 2/3 1/2 (MKS units!)
V  R h So
Dimensions of n? T /L
n 1/3

Is n only a function of roughness? NO!

1.49
V  R 2/3
h S1/2
o (English system)
n
Bottom slope
Q  VA
1
Q  ARh2 / 3 S o1 / 2 very sensitive to n
n
 Values of Manning n
Lined Canals n
Cement plaster 0.011
Untreated gu nite 0.016
Wood , planed 0.012 n = f(surface
Wood , u nplaned
Concrete, trow led
0.013
0.012 roughness,
Concrete, w ood forms, u nfinished 0.015 channel
Ru bble in cement 0.020
Asphalt, smooth 0.013 irregularity,
Asphalt, rou gh
N atural Channels
0.016
stage...)
Gravel bed s, straight 0.025
Gravel bed s plu s large bou ld ers 0.040
Earth, straight, w ith some grass 0.026
Earth, w ind ing, no vegetation 0.030
Earth , w ind ing w ith vegetation 0.050

n  0.031d 1 / 6 d in d = median size of bed material

n  0.038d 1 / 6 dftin m
 1
Trapezoidal Channel Q  ARh2 / 3 S o1 / 2
n

 Derive P = f(y) and A = f(y) for a

trapezoidal channel
 How would you obtain y = f(Q)?

A  yb  y 2 z
1 y
z

P  2 y   yz 
2

2 1/ 2
b b


P  2 y 1 z 
2 1/ 2
b

Use Solver!
 Flow in Round Conduits
= (r sin q )(r cos q )
r  y
  arccos 
 r 
radians
A  r 2   sin  cos  
r
T  2r sin 

P  2 r A y
Maximum discharge
when y = ______
0.938d T
 Most Economical Section of Channels
During the design stages of an open channel, the
channel cross-section, roughness and bottom slope
are given.

The objective is to determine the flow velocity, depth

and flow rate, given any one of them. The design of
channels involves selecting the channel shape and
bed slope to convey a given flow rate with a given
flow depth. For a given discharge, slope and
roughness, the designer aims to minimize the
cross-sectional area A in order to reduce
construction costs.
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 Most Economical Section of Channels

A section of a channel is said to be most economical when

the cost of construction of the channel is minimum.
But the cost of construction of a channel depends on
excavation and the lining. To keep the cost down or
minimum, the wetted perimeter, for a given discharge, should
be minimum.
This condition is utilized for determining the dimensions of
economical sections of different forms of channels.
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 Most Economical Section of Channels

Most economical section is also called the best

section or most efficient section as the discharge,
passing through a most economical section of channel
for a given cross sectional area A, slope of the bed S0
and a resistance coefficient, is maximum.

Hence the discharge Q , will be maximum when the wetted

perimeter P is minimum. 29
 Most Economical Section of Channels

The most ‘efficient’ cross-sectional shape is determined

for uniform flow conditions. Considering a given
discharge Q, the velocity V is maximum for the
minimum cross-section A. According to the Manning
equation the hydraulic diameter is then maximum.

It can be shown that:

1. the wetted perimeter is also minimum,
2. the semi-circle section (semi-circle having its
centre in the surface) is the best hydraulic section

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Most Economical Section of Channels

Most Economical Rectangular Channel

Because the hydraulic radius is equal to the water cross

section area divided by the wetted parameter, Channel
section with the least wetted parameter is the best
hydraulic section
Rectangular section

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Rectangular Channel
A  B D P  2D  B
A
P2D 
D
dP
0
dD
dP  A A BD B
2 2 0  2 2  2 2 
dD D  D D D

B
D
2
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Trapezoidal Channel
A
A(BnD )D or B D  nD
PB2D 1n2
A
P  (  nD )  2D 1n2
D
dP
 0 dP A
dD   2  n 2 1n2  0 2 1n 2  A n
dD D D 2

(B nD)D B2nD

2 1n 
2
2
n
D D
B2nD
D 1n 2

2
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Other criteria for economic Trapezoidal section

OFD k

The best side slope for Trapezoidal section

dP
0
dk

1
k    60
3 34
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Circular Channel
Circular section d 2
d2
A  sin 2
4 8
P  2r  d

Maximum Flow using Manning Maximum Velocity using Manning or Chezy

 154  D  0.95d  128.75  D  0.81d
Maximum Flow using Chezy
 151  D  0.94d
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Most Economical Section of Channels

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 Most Economical Section of Channels

Example
Circular open channel as shown d=1.68m, bed slope = 1:5000, find the
Max. flow rate & the Max. velocity using Chezy equation, C=70.
Max. flow rate  154
V  C Rh S
d2 d2 1.68 2  1.68 2
A  sin 2   154   sin 2  154  2.17 m 2
4 8 4 180 8

P   d  154   1.68  4.5 m
180
A 2.17
Rh    0.485m
P 4.5
1
V  70 0.485   0.69 m/s
5000
Q  VA  0.69  2.17  1.496 m 3 / s

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example , cont.

Max. Velocity  128.75

V  C Rh S
d2 d2 1.68 2  1.68 2
A  sin 2   128.75   sin 2  128.75  1.93 m 2
4 8 4 180 8

P   d  128.75   1.68  3.378 m
180
A 1.93
Rh    0.57m
P 3.3775
1
V  70 0.57   0.748 m/s
5000

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example
Trapezoidal open channel as shown Q=10m3/s, velocity =1.5m/s,
for most economic section. find wetted parameter, and the bed
slope n=0.014.
B  2kD
D 1 k 2 
2
2 B  2 32 D
D 1 3 2 
2
0.6055D  B
Q 10
A   6.667m2
V 1.5
A  B  kDD
3
A  (0.6055D  D)  D  6.667
2 40
D  1.78m
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example, cont.

P  B  2D 1  k 2
P  0.6055D  2D 1  k 2 To calculate bed Slope
2
3 1 2
P  0.6055(1.78)  2 1.78  1     7.49m V  Rh 3 S
2 n
A  6.667 m 2
P  7.49 m
A 6.667
Rh    0.89
P 7.49
2
1
V  0.89 3 S  1.5
0.014
S  1 : 1941.6
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example:
Use the proper numerical method to calculate uniform water
depth flowing in a Trapezoidal open channel with B = 10 m, as
shown Q=10m3/s if the bed slope 0.0016, n=0.014. k = 3/2. to a
precision 0.01 m, and with iterations not more than 15.
Note: you may find out two roots to the equation.
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V Rh S
n
B  B  2nD
A D
2
P  B2 nD2  D 2
A
Rh 
P
From Manning
2/3
Q 1  A
   S 1/ 2 42
A n P
 Most Economical Section of Channels

Example, cont.

D  2.28m

A  102.28  (2.28) 2  30.7m2

3
2

Q 10
V   0.326m / s
A 30.7

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